4 ms·

All these memey distress signals, like asking for “Angela”… are they actually adopted? Or do they just exist on the internet?

by 0898 5y ago

hnlmorg 5y ago
I've seen a video posted online of someone ringing the emergency services "ordering a pizza". It was a pretty emotional watch actually because there was no description so it took the viewer longer to realise what was going down than the operator. Really hit home just how hard their job is.
tdfx 5y ago
Have worked in bars and can confirm no one is going to recognize the Angela thing without additional context. It's just a feel-good memey thing.
chaircher 5y ago
They stop working once everyone knows about them. If your attacker knows your codeword it stops being a codeword
dredmorbius 5y ago
These are used with varying degrees of regularity in different situations. "Mayday", "SOS", "Securitay", and "Pan pan pan" in aviation and boating. For aviation also 7500, 7600, and 7700. A list of codes used in hospitals, including combative individuals, armed confrontations, bomb threats and the like: https://www.calhospitalprepare.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/em_survey_supplement_-_other_codes_used.pdf https://www.calhospitalprepare.org/sites/main/files/file-att... For lists of codes used in other contexts (police, subways, ships, air travel: https://www.theclever.com/15-secret-emergency-codes-youre-not-supposed-to-know-about/ https://www.theclever.com/15-secret-emergency-codes-youre-no... Note that without specific training and regular drilling, these are likely to not be especially useful. For communicating to the public a plausible-but-clear explanation, e.g., "police investigation" (usually code for suicide, possibly other death) is used especially in transportation systems. A "police investigation" on a transit line or bridge is frequently a suicide or attempt.
- vidarh 5y ago
  In London at least you'll often hear "due to passenger action" as a catch all for anything from trespass to suicide attempts that involve someone potentially on the line. From your list, I've hear "inspector sands" being used, and avoided the exit they called someone to.
tgsovlerkhgsel 5y ago
The "Angela" one specifically started not as a "use this codeword in any bar", but "in our bar, staff is trained to react to this code word" posted in the women's restrooms at a bar.

All these memey distress signals, like asking for “Angela”… are they actually adopted? Or do they just exist on the internet?

by 0898 5y ago

All these memey distress signals, like asking for “Angela”… are they actually adopted? Or do they just exist on the internet?

hnlmorg 5y ago

I've seen a video posted online of someone ringing the emergency services "ordering a pizza". It was a pretty emotional watch actually because there was no description so it took the viewer longer to realise what was going down than the operator. Really hit home just how hard their job is.

tdfx 5y ago

Have worked in bars and can confirm no one is going to recognize the Angela thing without additional context. It's just a feel-good memey thing.

chaircher 5y ago

They stop working once everyone knows about them. If your attacker knows your codeword it stops being a codeword

dredmorbius 5y ago

These are used with varying degrees of regularity in different situations. "Mayday", "SOS", "Securitay", and "Pan pan pan" in aviation and boating. For aviation also 7500, 7600, and 7700. A list of codes used in hospitals, including combative individuals, armed confrontations, bomb threats and the like: https://www.calhospitalprepare.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/em_survey_supplement_-_other_codes_used.pdf https://www.calhospitalprepare.org/sites/main/files/file-att... For lists of codes used in other contexts (police, subways, ships, air travel: https://www.theclever.com/15-secret-emergency-codes-youre-not-supposed-to-know-about/ https://www.theclever.com/15-secret-emergency-codes-youre-no... Note that without specific training and regular drilling, these are likely to not be especially useful. For communicating to the public a plausible-but-clear explanation, e.g., "police investigation" (usually code for suicide, possibly other death) is used especially in transportation systems. A "police investigation" on a transit line or bridge is frequently a suicide or attempt.

vidarh 5y ago
In London at least you'll often hear "due to passenger action" as a catch all for anything from trespass to suicide attempts that involve someone potentially on the line. From your list, I've hear "inspector sands" being used, and avoided the exit they called someone to.

tgsovlerkhgsel 5y ago

The "Angela" one specifically started not as a "use this codeword in any bar", but "in our bar, staff is trained to react to this code word" posted in the women's restrooms at a bar.